Method of fabricating containers



March 10, 1936.` L, E, LA BOMBARD 2,033,888v

METHOD OF FABRIGATING CONTAINERS i Filed Feb. 14, 1934 s sheets-sheet 1iL 45" /z/ ATTORNEYo. 0

MalCl'llo, 1936.. LA BOMBARD l METHOD oF FABRICATING CONTAINERS'Filed'Fem 14, 1934 :s Asmet=ssnmat 2 .se l

IN VENTOR.'

ATTORNEYS.

March l0, 1936. L, E LA BQMBARD 2,033,888

i METHOD o F FABRICATING conumns Filed Feb. i4, 1954 s sheets-shea 'sINVENTOR.'

leoni. Lavmafd, B ,/Mf/wm ATTORNEY.

y and durable in use. of paper material Ii, each ply being woundspirally .10

yPatented Mar. 1o,- 1936 'i l l l 2,033,888]

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i METHOD or FABRICATING' coN'rAnvEas Leon E.La Bombard, Fulton, N. Y., 'assirnor to Oswego Falls Corporation,Fulton, N.. Y., a corporation of'New York Application February 14, 1934,Serial No. '711,282

` 4 claims. (c1. 15s-1) 'I'his invention relates in generalto containerscrimping dies in spaced apart relationship, the for semi-liquid productssuch as ice cream, which bottom of the container resting upon the` endof containers are shipped in knock down condition the barrel. andassembled at the place where the contents is Figure 6 is a view, similarto Figure 5, with'the 5 put into the container. l movable die partiallyactuated toward the sta- 5 The invention relates further to a containertionary die, and the bottom 4entering the barrel fabricated fromcomparatively lightweight paper? o-f the container. I material in suchmanner that the container, when y This container comprises generally, abarrel or assembled, is liquid tight and particularly strong body I0which is made up of a plurality of plies vThe invention relates furtherto a container the one upon the other so that the barrel consists ofbody portion of which is shipped to the user in a 'a section of a tube.Due to the fact that this tube knock down or collapsed form, and whichis exis formed of a plurality of spiralwound layers of panded andfabricated into a complete article materiaLitpOssessescomparatively'great strength with a minimum expenditure of time andenergy, due' to the fact that it isa portion of a continuous 15 and whenassembled is 'neat in appearance and tube, and has no seams or joints.Also, due to sanitary in use.. the, fact that the barrel is formed ofwound lay- The invention relates further to a collapsible ers, eachlayer being wound with uniform tencontainer which; when assembled, is ofsuiiision, the strength of the barrel is materially 'incient strengthand durability to be handled when creased. Where the barrels are formedof. a sin- 20 lled in the same manner and by the same means 'giethickness of stock, an initial strain, or stress, as metallic containersused for the same purpose.' is created when the ilat strip is rolledinto cir- The invention has for its obje'ct a method by cular form, andthis results in materially dewhich the knock down container may be-assem-A creasing the strength of the barrel, as is well bled with theminimum expenditure of time and known to those skilled in the art. 25money, and by comparatively simple apparatus` The body I0 is providedwith a plurality of` which may be operated by unskilled labor. 'Morescores I2 extending longitudinally thereof, there particularly, it is amethod of securinga head of being several such scores about theperiphery of paper, or similar material, havingan annular the body.These scores serve atwo-fold purpose.

flange, to one end of a tubular brousbarrelof They Vincrease thestrength and rigidity of the 30 a container, with the annularflangelying against body, and-further these scores, or corrugations, the innerface of the margin-of the barrel, and .provide folding creases wherebythe body may be with its edge toward the outer edge of the barrel.folded ilat, and due to the fact that there are a Aside from thegeneralobjects', above recited, plurality of scores, the body will foldsubstanfurther objects will appear as the description protiall'y ilat inthe form of a series of small arcs 35 ceeds, f (Figure 2), whereby thefolded bodies may be The invention consists in the novel features packedinapressed condition without placing any and in the combinations andconstructions here'- undue strain upon the material from which theinafter set forth and claimed. barrel is made.

40 In describing this invention, referencev is had These containers. areintended for use by v40 to the accompanying drawings in which likecharmanufacturers of liquid, or semi-liquid, prodacters designatecorresponding parts in all the `ucts, such as ice cream, and theVgeneral object views. y is to replace the commonly used heavy'metallicFigure 1 is a perspective View of the container',` containers whichrequire a substantial initial l partly in section,'showing the'top'and-bottom investment, and which must be returned,.and 45 structure.cleaned, and sterilized, before they can be re- Figure 2 is aperspective view of the barrel of villed. i I the container in folded orlflat position. The bodies I0. are furnished to the ice cream Figure 3is a perspective view'of the meena-v `\manufacturer in folded orcollapsed condition, nism for securing the top andbottomrings to and areexpanded` into a tubular form,-and the-50 the barrel of the container.ends secured thereto at the manufacturers plant,

Figure 4 is an'elevation of the assembly mechaaccording to the demandsof his needs. nism, partly in section, showing. the bottom se- I amaware of the fact that attempts have cured to the `barrel of thecontainer. f Y been, previously made to provide a collapsible Figure 5is a partial sectionalview fof the ring. container which is fabricated,or assembled, at' 55 the manufacturers plant, but vthese containers havepossecdk generally such disadvantages that they have not been acceptedand adopted by the general trade. Such disadvantages are, in brief, thefabrication, or assembly, of containers at the manufacturers plantconsumes a considerable amount of time and energy and, unless thefabrication is done by an expert, a liquid tight' container was notproduced. Also, the containers so fabricated were not of suillcientdurability, particularly when they were filled and stored three and fourdeep in storage rooms. Very often, the weight of the contents wouldcrush, or damage, the containers in the lower rows. Also,

it is, and has been, common practice to handle v the metallic containerswith tonge, or hooks, due to the fact that it is impractical to providethe containers with integral handles, because of the fact that they areplaced, by the retailer, in refrigerator cabinets provided with acylindrical recess substantially the size of the containers. I have beenable to perfect my container to the point where all of thesedisadvantages have been overcome. I

Myvcontainer, when fabricated, or assembled, consists of the body Il anda bottom I5. The bottom is secured, in a liquid tight manner, to thebody by a simple crimping process whereby a split metallic ring iscrimped onto the lower end of the body in such manner that a liquidtight Joint is established between the bottom and the body. A similarring is provided at the upper, or top end of the body, and over which issecured a suitable cover.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, I5 indicates the bottom which isformed from a disk of paper material, and when secured in position hasan integral depending annular ilange I'I which snugly fits the bore ofthe body. This annular ilange I1 spaces the bottom of the container fromthe lower end of the body, whereby the container, when illled, restsupon the lower annular edge of the body. This is important due to thefact that the ice cream is poured into the container in liquid, orsemi-liquid, form, and the container is then placed in storage over aperiod of time during which the ice cream is frozen solid, and seasoneduntil it has the proper palatable qualities. In this freezing process,the bottom of the container is bulged downwardly, and unless it isspaced apart from the surface, upon which the container rests, it willcontact with said surface, and provide a rocking support for thecontainer which causes considerable trouble in stacking and handling thecontainers thereafter.

'I'he bottom I5, or the flange I1 thereof, is secured to the body orbarrel Il) by means of a crimped ring I8. The bottom ring I8 and topring I 9 are the same in cross section, and formed from a strip ofapparently thin metal, and are substantially U shaped in cross section,with one side or leg 20 of the U of greater length than the other. Theserings are not continuous, but split at one point, and the ends overlapand telescope as at 2|.

In assembled condition, the bottom I5 is located in one end of thebarrel I0 with the flange I 'I coacting with the bore of the barrel, andthe edge being substantially flush with the end of the barrel. 'Ihelonger side 20, of the ring I8, coacts with the' inner side of theflange I1, and the shorter side with the outside of the barrel, and iscrimped tightly against the same, so that when the ring I8 is inposition, it forms a rounded bead at the bottom of the container. I'hetop ring I9 is secured to the opposite end of the barrel in a similarmanner. Any suitable cver may be employed with this container, such 'asa 'stiil' paper slip cover.

Due to the fact that the rings I8, I9, are split, i fthese rings may hesecured to either the top, or

bottom, of the oontmner. Due to the fact that the ring is split, thedifference in thickness of the flanges' I1 is compensated for by theoverlapping ends of the rings, which have a relative sliding motionduring the operation of the crimping dies. l

As above stated, the barrels I0 oi the containers are shipped in fiat,or folded, condition. Obviously, it would be impractical to ship thecontainers in expanded, or completed, condition, due to the fact thatthey are bulky, and require considerable space. Due to the fact thatthese containers are not returned by the retailer to the manufacturer ofthe contents of the container, it is necssary for the manuacturer tomaintain a substantial inventory of the containers on hand, which, if inexpanded conditon, would require considerable storage and specialhandling. Accordingly, the method used in fabricating the container, atthe manufacturers plant, is of great importance, and a liquid tightcontainer must be fabricated, at the manufacturers plant, without theaid of intricate mechanism, and skilled labor.

In my invention, the rings I8, I9, are secured, or crimped, in place bya simple die mechanism consisting of a stationary and a movable die, theoperation of which isl exceedingly simple, and does require skilledoperators.

The particular mechanism here shown for fabricating the container formsno part of this invention, but constitutes the'subject matter of anadditional application. 'Ihis mechanism consists of a stationary die 25,which is annular in general form, and split dia-metrically, the rearhalf being supported by any suitable means, such as rods 26, which inturn are carried by the base structure 21. The forward half 28, of thedie 25, is carried by the supports 29 which are pivoted at their lowerends at 30 in such manner that the front half 28 of the die may be swunginto and out of juxtaposition with the stationary half of the die.Suitable means 3I is provided for locking the pivoted section 28 of thedie into engagement with the stationary portion of the same. The rear,or stationary, half of the die 25 is 'rigidly supported in the rear bythe rod 32.

The die 33 is mounted above the die 25, and is movable toward and fromthe same. It is carried by a suitable support 34 provided with endportions 35 which are formed with passages to slidably receive the rods26. Springs 36 are mounted upon the rods 26 between the ends 35 of thesupporting member- 34 for the upper die 33 and the support for the lowerdie, which is secured to the rods 26 by means of pins 3l. A cross member38 is rigidly secured to the upper ends of the rods 26, and carries therotatable cam 39, the surface of which coacts with a roller 40 securedto the support 34 of the upper die. 'I'he cam 39 is provided with ahandle 4I, and upon clockwise rotation of the handle 4I and cam 39(Figure 4), the upper die is caused to mo've toward the lower die 25. Ashere shown, the lower die 25 is formed with a plurality of bores, theupper bore 43 and lower bore 44 extending substantially parallel withthe axis of the die. The lower bore 44 is of less diameter than theupper bore 43. 'I'he intermedi-ate 4'portion as, between the oor-es 4a,44, is `tapered, o"r formed at' an' angle, to form a connecting surfacebetween the bores 43, 44. i The bottom 46 of the bore 44 is curvedinwardly to meet the straight bore 41. The upper die 33 comprises .astraight periphery 48, and a curved ledge- 49, connecting the surfaces48,58. The di-l ameter of the surface 48 is equal to the bore 41 of vthedie '25, less the thickness of the `barrel I8 and flange I1.- The outersurface of the die 33v is of such diameter that it slidably Vfits thebore 44 of the vdie 25. 'Ihe upper die 33 is provided with a plunger52,` carried by thescrews 53, the ends of which are threaded into theplunger 52 and the `stems extending through the inner/face of the die33. The upper face of the die 33 is counterbored at 55 to receive theheads 56 of the screws A spring 51 surrounds the stems ofthe screws 53,and normally holds the plunger 52 in spaced 59, 60. The rings 59, 60,are secured together, and mounted on the base 58 so -as to have rela-4tive movement with'the base 58.

As here shown, the rings 59, 60, are slidably mounted on the studs 6I,the ends of vwhich are threaded into the base 58, and springs 62 sur- 1roundqthe studs 6I and interposed betweenthe ring 59 and the base 58, sothat the rings 59, 60,

are normally spaced apart from thebase'58. The purpose of the rings 59,68, is to provide a` rigid support for the barrel' I0 of the container,when the top and bottom rings are being the ends thereof. n y

A plate 18 is supported within the lower portion of the lower die 25,and is of the `diameter of the 'bore of the barrel III of the container.vThe plate 18 is rigidly secured to the base 58 by means of the stud 1I.A'I-he plate 18 is held in a predetermined spaced relationship with thebase 58 and thedie 25. v

In operation, the forward half 28 of the die 25, together with the base58,*is swung outward,

as shownl in Figure 3. The barrel is expanded from flat position (Figure2) to expanded position, and passed over the plate 18 with lits endrestingv onthe ring 59, and being positioned by Vthe ring 68. Theforward portion-28 ofthe die 2,5 is ,then swung inwardly andlockedlintoengagement with the stationaryjportion .of the. die 254 forming a soliddie. The ring -I9 is then placed in the die, and the handle 4I is movedin clockwise direction (Figure 4), and as the cam 39 rotates, the upperdie 33 .is caused to move with the outer side voi.' the barrel.

downwardly toward the stationary die 25. The outer, or shorter, side ofthe ring I9 coacts with the tapered bore 45 of the die 25, whereupon'thering I9 is constricted to the proper diameter ywith the inner, orlonger, side 28 sliding into the bore of the barrel I8. Further downwardlmovementv of thedie 33 causes the outer, .or shorter, lside of the ringI9 to be crimped into tight engagement This, because of the curvedsurfaces 46, 49. The handle 4I is then rotated in a. counter-clockwisedirection (Figure 4) raising the upper die 33. The lfront portion 28 ofthe die 25 isthen unlocked from the rear portion, and swung outwardly,and thev barrelremoved from the machine. The upper end of the barrel,with vthe ringv I9 crimped in position, is now passed over the plate 10and seatedupon the ring 59. rThe die 25 is closed clamped to and, ashere'shown, the bottom I5 placed in the die 25 on the upper edge of thebarrel I0. The bottom I5, in this case, is formed with the flange 1 I1extending at an angle greater than a right angle to the disk, or centerportion of the bottom, and the edge of the flange I1 coacts with theupper portion of the bore 45 of the die 25. This aids in positioning thebottom relatively to the dies and the barrel. The ring I8 is then placedin the die 25, and the upper die moved downwardly in the mannerdescribed concerning the crimping of the ring I9. A slight downwardmovement of vthe die is shown AinFigure 5, and upon further downwardmovement, the plunger 52 coacts with the bottom I forcing it into thebarrel I0 at which time the ange I1 is swung to a right angle with thebottom, and the ring I9 contracted to the proper diameter, by action ofthe tapered bore surface 4,5, and arranged in alinement with flange I1.The plunger 52 is so spaced normally, relay tive to the die 33, that thedie coacts with the up' per surface of the ring I8 before the plunger 52coacts with the bottom I5, so that the ring I8 is moved slightly towardthe bottom I5. Then, as the plunger 52 coacts with the bottom, andforces it into the barrel of the container, the

`flange I1 is swung at a right angle and coacts with the outersurface ofthe leg 28 of the ring I8, at which time the parts have assumed theposition shownjin Figure 6.

Upon furtherdownward movement of the die 33, the bottom I5 is forcedagainst the plate 10. The plate 10 is so spaced relatively to the rings59, 68, that the bottom I5 is pressed into the barrel IIl until the edgeof the flange I1 is substantially ush with the edge of the barrel. Thesprings 51 have less tension, or are weaker, than the springs `62 underthe rings 59, 60. In the event a particular barrel I0 happens to belonger than the average barrel, whereby the upper edge yof the barrelextends upwardly beyond the edge of the ange I1, when the bottom I5 isresting upon the plate 18, the barrel itself will be moved downwardlywhen the curve portion of the ring I8 coacts with the edge of thebarrel, due to the fact that the barrel is composed of a plurality ofplies of material wound spirally, and is corrugated lengthwise to be ofsufficient strength to cornpress the springs 62 withoutcollapsing.

When the die-33 has reached the end of its travel, the outer, orshorter, side of the ring I8 is crimped tightly into engagement with'thesur face of the barrel in the same maner that the top ring was socrimped. The handle 4I is then ro,- tated ina counterclockwisedirection, the die 33 raised,- the forward half 28 of the die 25 swungoutwardly, and the completed container removed.

Insteadvof the bottom I5 and the ring I8 being placed separately in thedie 25, the vflange I1 can be vformed substantially at right angles tothe bottom I5, andthe ring I8 placed on the flange I1, and the bottomand ring I8 both placed in the die at the same time. In this case,

one tapered surface 45 of the die' 25 would not be necessary.v

AIt will be observed that I have provided a most economical andeiiiclent method of securing bottoms to containers, and means forcarrying out such method.' It has been common practice heretofore, tosecure similar bottoms in containers by means of a crimped ring byspinning the outer side of the metallic ring with a rotating head, ortool; lTheunderstanding has been that a satisfactory clamp could not beeiected by any means other than spinning. The spinning method .is

satisfactory in container manufacturing plants, but entirely impracticalfor the fabrication of containers by the users thereof who are not inthe least familiar with the manufacture, or assembling, of containers.Machines heretofore used would involve an excessive cost. and involvethe services of an expert to operate and maintain them which would morethan offset any saving through the use of the knock down container. Itwill also be observed that I insert the bottom in the container, `andsecure it to the container in a single operation. Heretofore, thebottoms have been inserted and secured by separate operations.

What I claim is:

1. The method of securing a closure having an annular flange in one endof an open tubular barrel consisting of pressing the closure in thebarrel with the flange toward the outer edge of the barrel, andsimultaneously pressing a channel shaped metallic ring over the outeredge of the barrel and the ange of the closure, and crimping the outerside of the ring into contact with the outer face Yof the barrel by suchpressing action. v

2. The method of securing in one end of a tubular barrel a head havingan annular flange whereby the head is cup shaped, with the ange lyingagainst the inner face of the margin of the barrel and its edge towardthe outer edge of the barrel, by means of a ring, channel shape ingeneral form'in cross section, consisting in effecting relative axialmovement of the ring and the barrel, and bringing one side-of thechannel formation first into engagement with the flange when flaredoutward slightly and while the head is displaced outward slightly fromthe barrel, and

thereby forcing the head and its ange into the I end of the barrel, andin the same operation contracting the margin of the other side of thechannel formation onto the outer face of the margin of the barrel.

3. The method of securing a closure, having an annular flange, in theopen end of a fibrous barrel; consisting of placing the closure on theend of the barrel with the flange extending outwardly, placing aninverted U shaped metallic ring over the flange of the closure andconcentrically therewith, with the inner side of the ring arranged onthe inner side of the flange of the closure, pressing the ring towardthe barrel and the closure into the open end of the barrel with theflange of the closure arranged concentrically Within the barrel andextending at a right angle to the closure and simultaneously, duringsaid pressing action, crimping the outer side of the metallic ring intocontact with the outer face of the barrel.

4. The method of securing a fibrous closure having an annular flange inone end of an open fibrous barrel; consisting of arranging a closure anda metallic ring U shaped in cross section concentrically on the end ofthe barrel with the inner side of the ring engaging the inner side ofthe flange of the closure, pressing the closure into the open end of thebarrel with the flange of the closure arranged parallel and concentricwith the inner surface of the barrel, and simultaneously pressing themetallic ring over the end of the barrel and the flange of the closure,and while said closure and ring are so positioned, by such pressingaction, crimping the outer side of said ring into engagement with theouter surface of the barrel of the container.

LEON E. LA BOMBARD.

